Levels of Questions Lit. & Comp. “Proficient readers actively revise their understanding of the text and its importance as they read. After a close reading, they can express a cogent synthesis of the overall meaning of the text and evaluate it in light of other texts and experiences--the goal for all readers.” -The College Board To meet the above goal, a reader needs to ask herself three levels of questions about a text. Likewise, a strong analytical essay includes all three levels. Level One Questions: Literal ● factual--can be answered definitely with facts ● address key elements of the text ● answers found directly in the text or by information readily available in outside sources ● have one correct answer ● require reading of the work, but require little thought or understanding ● good answers lead to an accurate and complete summary of the text Example: Name the feuding families in Romeo and Juliet? Example: What is an apothecary? Level Two Questions: Interpretive ● inferential--answers to these questions may be implied rather than stated directly in the reading ● address motive of author or a character ● reader must make inferences based on specific information they can cite to back up their conclusions ● found by following patterns and seeing relationships among parts of the text ● call for longer answers and more thinking ● require reading of the work AND consideration of what has been read ● good answers lead to an identification of the significant patterns Example: What is Romeo’s concept of love at the start of the play? Example: Is Friar Lawrence or the Nurse more to blame for the tragedy? Level Three Questions: Global ● connecting--answers to these questions emphasize the “So what?” of the text ● link text to prior knowledge, other texts, or human experiences in life ● found by testing the ideas of a text against readers’ schema ● require the reader to think more abstractly and relate the text to real life ● good answers lead to an appreciation of the text and further discussion Example: Is “love at first sight” really love? Example: Should parents arrange marriages for their children? Level One Questions: Literal How many titles have been challenged in the first 8 months of 2023? In the first 8 months of 2023, 1,915 titles were challenged. What was the theme of last year's banned book week? The theme of last year’s banned book week was “Let Freedom Read!”. Level Two Questions: Interpretive Why is the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools system receiving backlash for prohibiting banned books week? The CMS system is receiving backlash for prohibiting banned books week because the decision to participate was thought to be up to each individual school, not made by an entire county. Why did the board restrict “Monday’s Not Coming”? (Go beyond the two reasons provided) The board restricted “Monday’s Not Coming?” because it was deemed inappropriate for children based on the topics it discussed. If children read about those topics too early, it could create curiosity and questions about things that they are too young to know and understand. Level Three Questions: Global How does the restriction of information impact the world? It limits knowledge on all sorts of subjects and can create an intelligence barrier based on who does and doesn’t have access to certain information. Who should get to decide what other people have access to? I think that the book-reading community should decide what information should be shared, and parents should have a say in what can be accessed by their own children. Sports: Objective summary: Children have the opportunity to develop many life skills in sports, including experiencing social, developmental, and emotional benefits. Parents also play an important role in sports and their children’s experiences in them. Central Idea: Sports have many benefits to children and can help them develop life skills that they will use forever. Author: An Australian Health Advisor that supports the idea that you can develop life skills through sports Audience: Most likely parents/guardians or just people that are interested in the impact that playing sports will have on children Purpose: To inform the readers of the psychological and social benefits of sports Level 1: What are the brain chemicals that are stimulated during physical activity called? What are the two things that it takes to be a good loser? Level 2: How do parents play a role in creating a positive environment in children’s sports? Why is it important for children to feel what it’s like to lose? Level 3: How does the introduction of sports at a young age impact people around the world? Should sports be played by kids for the purpose of competition or for developing life skills?
